Suffering flood damage to your home is always a stressful and unpleasant event. The clean up operation needs to be started at the earliest possible opportunity if you want to get your home back to normal quickly. This guide will outline the steps that you will need to take.
Sort the Insurance
First of all, contact the insurance company that deals with your home and contents insurance. You want to get the ball rolling as quickly as possible so that you can get the money in your pocket. Then you can start to pay for the repairs that need to be carried out. You can wait for the money to be dropped in your bank account before you start, or you can start making repairs beforehand if you can.
Shovel Out Mud
Once an inspector from the insurance company has visited your home and had a look at the situation, you can start to clean up. Before entering the home, make sure it’s safe and turn off the electrical supply. Water and electricity don’t mix well, so don’t take that risk. And then you can start getting rid of the bulk of mud that often begins to pile up in a home during a flood. Shovel as much of it out as you can.
Clean as Much as Possible
A lot of the surfaces in your home will be covered with dirt. And some of this can pose a health risk. That’s why it’s important to start cleaning all the surfaces with hot water as soon as you can. It’s also a good idea to disinfect these surfaces for extra safety. There are all kinds of bad bacteria present in flood water.
Start Sorting Items
Some items will be able to be saved and restored. But many things will be so damaged by the flood that you will have to get rid of them. It’s a good idea to sort through these items as quickly as you can. You can take rugs and furniture outside to try off. They might also need treating by a specialist if they’ve absorbed a lot of the flood water. But any electricals that were submerged in water will have to be thrown out.
Think About the Walls
The plaster and paneling of your walls can often be saved after a flood. You can try them with warm air. But wallboard can be permanently damaged because it tends to soak up the flood water. If you’re not sure how to treat your walls after a flood, contact a company that offers water damage restoration services in your area. They’ll be able to find the best solution for you.
Pump Out the Basement
Finally, you can venture into the basement and get rid of the water that is standing there. This can be done by you if you have a pump. Or you get a professional to do it. When the water is gone from the basement, you can start to dry it out and get rid of anything that has been damaged beyond repair. You have to be careful not to drain it too quickly though. It can cause problems for your external walls if it starts pooling outside your home once it’s pumped out.